Hola! Buenos dias! Please,
please, everybody have a seat. It is wonderful to be back in México --
lindo y querido. I bring with me the greetings and friendship of the
people of the United States, including tens of millions of proud Mexican
Americans.

This is my fourth visit to
Mexico as President. This is my second visit to this museum. And each
time that I've come I’ve been inspired by your culture and by the beauty
of this land, and most of all, by the Mexican people. You’ve been so
kind and gracious to me. You’ve welcomed my wife, Michelle, here.
You’ve welcomed our daughter, Malia, and her classmates to Oaxaca. And
as a proud father, I have to say that Malia’s Spanish is getting very
good. It helps that she’s smarter than I am.

And it’s an honor to be back in Mexico City -- one of the world’s great
cities. Es un placer estar entre amigos.

And it’s fitting that we
gather at this great museum, which celebrates Mexico’s ancient
civilizations and their achievements in arts and architecture, medicine
and mathematics. In modern times, Mexico’s blend of cultures and
traditions found its expression in the murals of Rivera and the
paintings of Frida, and the poetry of Sor Juana and the essays of
Octavio Paz. And Paz once spoke words that capture the spirit of our
gathering here today -- in this place that celebrates your past, but
which this morning is filled with so many young people who will shape
Mexico’s future. Octavio Paz said, “Modernity is not outside us, it is
within us. It is today and the most ancient antiquity; it is tomorrow
and the beginning of the world; it is a thousand years old and yet
newborn.”

And that’s why I wanted this
opportunity to speak with all of you today, because you live at the
intersection of history that Octavio Paz was referring to. The young
people of Mexico, you honor your heritage, thousands of years old, but
you’re also part of something new, a nation that’s in the process of
remaking itself. And as our modern world changes around us, it’s the
spirit of young people, your optimism and your idealism, and your
willingness to discard old habits that are no longer working that will
drive the world forward.

You see the difference between the world as it is and the world as it
could to be; between old attitudes that stifle progress and the new
thinking that allows us to connect and collaborate across cultures. And
by the way, that includes how we think about the relationship between
Mexico and the United States.

Despite all the bonds and the values that we share, despite all the
people who claim heritage on both sides, our attitudes sometimes are
trapped in old stereotypes. Some Americans only see the Mexico that is
depicted in sensational headlines of violence and border crossings. And
let’s admit it, some Mexicans think that America disrespects Mexico, or
thinks that America is trying to impose itself on Mexican sovereignty,
or just wants to wall ourselves off. And in both countries such
distortions create misunderstandings that make it harder for us to move
forward together. So I've come to Mexico because I think it’s time for
us to put the old mind-sets aside. It’s time to recognize new realities
-- including the impressive progress of today’s Mexico.

It is true that there are
Mexicans all across this country who are making courageous sacrifices
for the security of your country; that in the countryside and the
neighborhoods not far from here, there are those who are still
struggling to give their children a better life. But what’s also clear
is that a new Mexico is emerging.

I see it in the deepening of
Mexico’s democracy, citizens who are standing up and saying that
violence and impunity is not acceptable; a courageous press that’s
working to hold leaders accountable; a robust civil society, including
brave defenders of human rights who demand dignity and rule of law. You
have political parties that are competing vigorously, but also
transferring power peacefully, and forging compromise. And that's all a
sign of the extraordinary progress that's taken place here in Mexico.

And even though we know the
work of perfecting democracy is never finished -- that's true in
America, that's true here in Mexico -- you go forward knowing the truth
that Benito Juarez once spoke -- “democracy is the destiny of
humanity.” And we are seeing that here in Mexico. We're seeing that
here in Mexico.

We're also seeing a Mexico that’s creating new prosperity: Trading with
the world. Becoming a manufacturing powerhouse -- from Tijuana to
Monterrey to Guadalajara and across the central highlands -- a global
leader in automobiles and appliances and electronics, but also a center
of high-tech innovation, producing the software and the hardware of our
digital age. One man in Querétaro spoke for an increasing number of
Mexicans. “There’s no reason to go abroad in search of a better life.
There are good opportunities here.” That's what he said, and you are an
example of that.

And, in fact, I see a Mexico that’s lifted millions of people from
poverty. Because of the sacrifices of generations, a majority of
Mexicans now call themselves middle class, with a quality of life that
your parents and grandparents could only dream of. This includes, by
the way, opportunities for women, who are proving that when you give
women a chance, they will shape our destiny just as well as men, if not
better.

I also see in Mexico’s youth
an empowered generation because of technology. I think I see some of
you tweeting right now -- what’s happening. And whether it’s harnessing
social media to preserve indigenous languages, or speaking up for the
future that you want, you’re making it clear that you want your voice
heard.

And because of all the
dynamic progress that's taking place here in Mexico, Mexico is also
taking its rightful place in the world, on the world stage. Mexico is
standing up for democracy not just here in Mexico but throughout the
hemisphere. Mexico is sharing expertise with neighbors across the
Americas. When they face earthquakes or threats to their citizens, or
go to the polls to cast their votes, Mexico is there, helping its
neighbors. Mexico has joined the ranks of the world’s largest
economies. It became the first Latin American nation to host the G20.

Just as Mexico is being transformed, so are the ties between our two
countries. As President, I’ve been guided by a basic proposition -- in
this relationship there’s no senior partner or junior partner; we are
two equal partners, two sovereign nations. We must work together in
mutual interest and mutual respect. And if we do that both Mexico and
the United States will prosper.

And just as I worked with
President Calderón, I’ve reaffirmed with President Peña Nieto that the
great partnership between our two countries will not simply continue,
it’s going to grow stronger and become broader. In my time with
President Peña Nieto, I’ve come to see his deep commitment to Mexico and
its future. And we share the belief that as leaders our guiding mission
is to improve the lives of our people. And so we agree that the
relationship between our nations must be defined not by the threats that
we face but by the prosperity and the opportunity that we can create
together.

Now, as equal partners, both
our nations must recognize our mutual responsibilities. So here in
Mexico, you’ve embarked on an ambitious reform agenda to make your
economy more competitive and your institutions more accountable to you,
the Mexican people. As you pursue these reforms, I want you to know
that you have strong support in the United States. Because we believe,
I believe, that people all around the world deserve the best from their
government. And whether you’re looking for basic services, or trying to
start a new business, we share your belief that you should be able to
make it through your day without paying a bribe. And when talented
Mexicans like you imagine your future, you should have every opportunity
to succeed right here in the country you love.

And in the United States, we recognize our responsibilities. We
understand that much of the root cause of violence that's been happening
here in Mexico, for which many so Mexicans have suffered, is the demand
for illegal drugs in the United States. And so we’ve got to continue to
make progress on that front.

I’ve been asked, and I
honestly do not believe that legalizing drugs is the answer. But I do
believe that a comprehensive approach -- not just law enforcement, but
education and prevention and treatment -- that's what we have to do.
And we’re going to stay at it because the lives of our children and the
future of our nations depend on it.

And we also recognize that most of the guns used to commit violence here
in Mexico come from the United States. I think many of you know that in
America, our Constitution guarantees our individual right to bear arms,
and as President I swore an oath to uphold that right and I always
will. But at the same time, as I’ve said in the United States, I will
continue to do everything in my power to pass common-sense reforms that
keep guns out of the hands of criminals and dangerous people. That can
save lives here in Mexico and back home in the United States. It’s the
right thing to do. So we’ll keep increasing the pressure on gun
traffickers who bring illegal guns into Mexico. We’ll keep putting
these criminals where they belong -- behind bars.

We recognize we’ve got work
to do on security issues, but we also recognize our responsibility -- as
a nation that believes that all people are created equal -- we believe
it’s our responsibility to make sure that we treat one another with
dignity and respect. And this includes recognizing how the United
States has been strengthened by the extraordinary contributions of
immigrants from Mexico and by Americans of Mexican heritage.

Mexican Americans enrich our
communities, including my hometown of Chicago, where you can walk
through neighborhoods like Pilsen, Little Village -- La Villita --
dotted with murals of Mexican patriots. You can stop at a fonda, you
can hear some mariachis, where we are inspired by the deep faith of our
peoples at churches like Our Lady of Guadalupe. We’ve got a Chicagoan
in here somewhere.

And we’re so grateful to
Mexican Americans in every segment of our society -- for teaching our
children, and running our companies, and serving with honor in our
military, and making breakthroughs in science, standing up for social
justice. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. told Cesar Chavez once, we are
“brothers in the fight for equality.” And, in fact, without the strong
support of Latinos, including so many Mexican Americans, I would not be
standing today as President of the United States. That's the truth.

And so given that is Americas heritage, given that we share a border
with Mexico, given ties that run back generations, it is critical that
the United States recognize the need to reform our immigration system --
because we are a nation of laws, but we're also a nation of immigrants.
Like every nation we have a responsibility to ensure that our laws are
upheld. But we also know that, as a nation of immigrants, the
immigration system we have in the United States right now doesn’t
reflect our values. It separates families when we should be reuniting
them. It’s led to millions of people to live in the shadows. It
deprives us of the talents of so many young people -- even though we
know that immigrants have always been the engine of our economy,
starting some of our greatest companies and pioneering new industries.

That’s one of the reasons I acted to lift the shadow of deportation from
what we call the DREAMers -- young people brought to the United States
as children. And that’s why I’m working with our Congress to pass
common-sense immigration reform this year. I'm convinced we can get it
done. Reform that continues to strengthen border security and
strengthen legal immigration, so citizens don’t have to wait years to
bring their families to the United States. Reform that holds everyone
accountable -- so immigrants get on the right side of the law and so
immigrants are not exploited and abused. And most of all, reform that
gives millions of undocumented individuals a pathway to earn their
citizenship. And I’m optimistic that -- after years of trying -- we
are going to get it done this year. I'm absolutely convinced of it.

Obviously, we’re going to
have to work with the Mexican government to make sure that we've got a
well-regulated border. But I also want to work with the Mexican
government because I believe that the long-term solution to the
challenge of illegal immigration is a growing and prosperous Mexico that
creates more jobs and opportunities for young people here.

I agree with the Mexican student who said, “I feel like we can reach the
same level as anyone in the world.” That's absolutely true. And so I
firmly believe -- juntos, podemos lograr más -- together, we can achieve
more. So with the remainder of my time today, I want to focus on five
areas where we can do more.

Number one, let’s do more to expand trade and commerce that creates good
jobs for our people. We already buy more of your exports than any
country in the world. We sell more of our exports to Mexico than we do
to Brazil, Russia, India and China combined. Mexican companies are
investing more in the United States, and we’re the largest foreign
investor in Mexico -- because we believe in Mexico and want to be a
partner in your success.

So guided by the new economic dialogue that President Peña Nieto and I
announced yesterday, let’s do more to unlock the true potential of our
relationship. Let’s keep investing in our roads and our bridges and our
border crossings so we can trade faster and cheaper. Let’s help our
smaller businesses, which employ most of our workers, access new markets
and new capital -- the big markets right across the border. Let’s
empower our young entrepreneurs as they create startup companies that
can transform how we live. And let’s realize the Trans-Pacific
Partnership this year, so our two nations can compete and win in the
fast-growing markets of the Asia Pacific. If the United States and
Mexico are working together, we can sell a whole lot of things on the
other side of the Pacific Ocean where the fastest-growing economies are
taking off right now. That's number one.

Number two, let’s not just sell more things to each other, let’s build
more things together. With many of our companies operating in both
countries, parts are now being shipped back and forth across the border
as they’re assembled. So every day, U.S. and Mexican workers are
building things together -- whether it’s crafts -- or whether it’s cars,
or aircraft, or computers, or satellites.

I think this is only the beginning. Given the skills of our workers, it
makes even more sense for companies around the world to set up shop in
the United States and set up shop in Mexico. And as Mexico reforms,
we’re going to be able to do more business together and sell more goods
around the world. And the more that our companies collaborate, the more
competitive they’ll be. And the entire hemisphere will benefit because
of those links and chains that have been created between our two
countries.

Number three, as we secure
our economic future, let’s secure our energy future, including the clean
energy that we need to combat climate change. Our nations are blessed
with boundless natural beauty -- from our coastlines and farmlands to
your tropical forests. But climate change is happening. The science is
undeniable. And so is the fact that our economies must become greener.

In the United States, we’ve made historic commitments to clean and
renewable energy like solar and wind power. We've made a commitment to
reduce the emissions of harmful carbon pollution. And here in Mexico,
you’re a leader in cutting carbon emissions and helping developing
countries do the same. So, together, let’s keep building new energy
partnerships by harnessing all these new sources, and, by the way,
creating the good jobs that come with these new technologies. And let’s
keep investing in green buildings and technologies that make our entire
economy more efficient, but also make our planet cleaner and safer for
future generations.

Number four -- and this is
part of staying competitive -- let’s do more together in education so
our young people have the knowledge and skills to succeed. Here in Mexico you’ve made important progress, with more children
staying in school longer, and record numbers of students like you
getting a university education. Just imagine how much the students of
our two countries could do together, how much we could learn from each
other.

And that’s why President
Peña Nieto and I announced a new partnership in higher education -- to
encourage more collaboration between our universities and our university
students. We’re going to focus on science and technology,
on engineering and mathematics. And this is part of my broader
initiative called 100,000 Strong in the Americas. We want 100,000
students from the United States studying in Latin America, including
Mexico. And we want 100,000 Latin American students, including Mexican
students, to come to study in the United States of America. Because
when we study together, and we learn together, we work together, and we
prosper together -- that's what I believe.

And finally, to help spark
prosperity in both out countries, let’s truly invest in innovation, and
research and development together. Here in Mexico, you’re now a global
leader in graduating engineers and technicians. One of Mexico’s leading
scientists, Rafael Navarro-González, is helping analyze data from the
rover that we landed on Mars.

So, together, let’s remember that every dollar, every peso that we
invest in research and development returns so much more to our economies
in jobs and opportunity, new products, new services. That's why I'm
calling for us to forge new partnerships in aerospace, and IT, and
nanotechnology and biotechnology and robotics. Let’s answer the hope of
a young woman -- a student at the National Polytechnic Institute -- who
spoke for many in your generation, so eager to make your mark. She
said, “Give us jobs as creators.” Give us jobs as creators.

Sometimes young people are
known as just consumers of goods, but we want young people creating the
new products, the next big thing that will change how we live our
lives. That's the agenda that I want to pursue.

And I understand that there
are those both here in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America, but also
back home in the United States, who are skeptical of your progress, who
maybe doubt the capacity for us to make the most of this moment. There
are always cynics who say, aw, this is too hard, the headwinds you face
are too stiff. They say Mexico has been here before we look like we're
making progress, we're looking at a bright horizon, on the verge of
great possibility, but then we get blown off course.

And it’s true that nothing
is inevitable. Progress and success is never guaranteed. The future
that you dream of, the Mexico you imagine -- it must be built, it must
be earned. Nobody else can do it for you. Only you can earn it. You
are the future. As Nervo wrote in “La Raza de Bronce,” tu eres el sueño
-- you are the dream.

For just as it was patriots
who answered the call when Father Hidalgo rang the church bell two
centuries ago, you -- your lives, in a free Mexico -- are the dream that
they imagined. And now it falls to you to keep alive those virtues for
which so many generations of Mexicans struggled.

You are the dream that can stand up for justice and human rights and
human dignity, here at home and around the world. You’re the creators
and the builders and the climbers and the strivers who can deliver
progress and prosperity that will lift up not just the Mexican people
for generations to come, but the entire world.

You’re the men and women who will push this nation upwards as Mexico
assumes its rightful place, as you proudly sing: “in heaven your eternal
destiny was written by the finger of God.”

You are the dream. This is your moment. And as you reach for the
future, always remember that you have the greatest of partners, the
greatest if friends -- the nation that is rooting for your success more
than anybody else -- your neighbor, the United States of America.